11272012 - News Article - Stepdaughter of Lake Station mayor files discrimination claim against city judge

Stepdaughter of Lake Station mayor files discrimination claim against city judge

NWI Times
November 2, 2012 - 7:00 pm 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-station/stepdaughter-of-lake-station-mayor-files-discrimination-claim-against-city/article_0d6531bf-4f60-53bb-82d1-e09610d028b7.html

LAKE STATION | The stepdaughter of Mayor Keith Soderquist has filed a discrimination claim against City Judge Chris Anderson.

Miranda Brakley, who was fired from her court clerk position by Anderson, said the termination was based on retaliation and the fact she is a Hispanic woman.

The claim was filed earlier this year with the Indiana Civil Rights Commission in Indianapolis.

In the claim, Brakley said she began employment with the city of Lake Station on Jan. 1, 2008.

Before being discharged on June 7, Brakely had held the position of deputy court clerk.

In the court filing, Brakley said Anderson told her she was no longer a court clerk because of "trust" issues.

"I had never received any verbal or written write-ups with regard to my job performance," Brakley said in the claim.

Brakley said she was the only woman of Hispanic origin who worked in the court clerk's office.

"I believe that I have been discriminated against because of my sex, female; my national origin, Mexican; and retaliated against for reporting illegal actions in violation of the Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Brakley said in the claim.

Karen Bellinger, of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said she could not comment on the case because of confidentiality laws.

Brakley could not be reached for further comment and Anderson declined to comment.

Soderquist said he had nothing to with his stepdaughter's case.

"I neither hired her nor fired her. Those issues are out of my control," Soderquist said.

Anderson filed a suit against city officials earlier this year after the City Council on June 13 transferred two clerk positions out of the judge's supervision and budget and into that of the clerk-treasurer.

One of those clerks was Brakley.

Anderson's supervision of the two clerk positions and related budget were restored on Oct. 28 following an agreed order issued by Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins.

Anderson has said he believes the transfer was directly related to him firing Brakley.

Soderquist has continued to deny that allegation.